A Quick Q&A with Alexandra Golovanoff

Alexandra Golovanoff pour la collection Alexandra Golovanoff automne-hiver 2017-2018 Crédit photo : François Pragnère

There are some people who are just born with good taste and a refined sense of elegance. Alexandra Golovanoff falls into that category. Daughter of antique dealers who dressed her in bespoke hand made clothing as a child,  mostly made by her mother, Golovanoff grew up knowing what looks and feels good. 

She first appeared on the fashion radar as the presenter of the cult French fashion program “La mode, la mode, la mode” on Paris Première. But now she has returned to her childhood roots of sorts, with the launch of a signature line of cashmere sweaters. Designed to become wardrobe staples that can be counted on for years, Golovanoff’s round collar sweaters have, almost overnight, become instant classics.

Here she talks about her slow and steady approach to fashion design, the importance of luck in her life and her hidden talents as an electrician.

Q: How did you first get interested in fashion?
A: Probably when I was born ! I am the first born of a mother who knits and sews since ever. I was so well dressed as a baby, then as a child, all bespoke !

Q: What was your big break?
A: As a Parisian youngster, with this kind of mother, I always felt like I was playing the game as an amateur.  When I started hosting a tv show about fashion (la mode la mode la mode), I entered the professional fashion world and met a lot of people there.

Q: What made you finally decide to launch out on your own and create your brand?
A: Being a journalist (asking questions, making interviews…) taught me a lot ! But probably,  always being an observer became frustrating for me. I have many ideas but I am very slow to make them happen. I have had that cashmere line idea for the past 20 years !!
Last year I felt the moment had come in my life and I just did it. I often compare that to motherhood : you have children without knowing what exactly it entails, just because the desire for it is so strong.

Françoise Golovanoff pour la collection Alexandra Golovanoff automne-hiver 2017-2018 Crédit photo : François Pragnère

Q: Who inspires you? 
A: My family, my mother especially. She is my favorite « consultant » to resolve technical problems. But also designers, friends of mine like Julie de Libran or Pierre Hardy. And more generally, people around me, who impress me with their intelligence and energy, their talent, their inner beauty and elegance. I’ve asked some of them to pose for my collection.

Q: Who living or dead would you love to be able to have dinner with?
A: Serge Poliakoff and Mark Rothko to discuss colors.

Jessica Michault

Jessica Michault is the Senior Vice President of industry relations at GPS Radar by Launchmetrics. She is also the editor-at-large for ODDA magazine and contributes to publications like the New York Times, the Business of Fashion, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Mixte magazine.